Voice Control Coming to the iPhone 3.0 OS?

One of the features most missed on the iPhone, particularly in states where they have hand-free while driving laws on the books, is voice dialing. Heck, if nearly every Windows Mobile device can ship with it embedded by default, what's up with Apple? More evidence is stacking up, however, that the iPhone 3.0 OS will finally add voice control.

According to Ars, the feature is code-named "Jibbler." It will add both voice synthesis and also voice recognition to the iPhone.

It's also, according to their informants, "Jibbler" isn't something akin to say Microsoft's old Voice Command; it's an enhancement to the iPhone SpringBoard app. It could therefore be used for voice control, rather than just voice dialing, but I'd vote for at least getting voice dialing into the 3.0 release.

Here's the deal, though: if you're going to add voice control or voice dialing, make the thing:

• Work with Bluetooth headsets (including activation via the headset)
• Recognize names and commands without training or voice tags
• Recognize names, period

It's blasted annoying to have to repeat over and over again when the app can't figure out what you're saying, no matter how clearly you enunciate.

My guess is it would be one of those features that Apple wouldn't ship with, if it wasn't pretty much rock-solid. We'll see.